Szczyrk
Encyclopedia
Szczyrk sz is a town in the Beskid Śląski mountains of southern Poland
, situated in the valley of the Żylica river. It is part of the Silesian Voivodeship
(since 1999), previously being part of the Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship (1975–1998). It has a population of 5,810 people (2004).
The town is a popular winter sports centre, with over 60 km of ski routes served by 30 ski lifts. The principal training centre for Poland's Winter Olympic
athletes is based in the town, where they train for events such as skiing
, ski jumping
and ice skating
. The ski jumping in the Youth WInter Olympics 2009 took place in Szczyrk. Peter Prevc
won before Vladimir Zografski
and Adrian Schuler.
The two mountain ranges that surround the valley are dominated by the peaks of Skrzyczne
(1,257m) and Klimczok (1,117m), both of significant interest to tourists. There are commanding views from either peak. Moreover, either peak is accessible to most people, in one day's hike, via the tourist routes marked on any tourist map available in most kiosks or mountain shelters. The routes are mostly accessible for the able-bodied, Skrzyczne being accessible via chair-lift.
Szczyrk shares a common border with Wisła, a town where the source of the Vistula
(Wisła) river can be found (around the Barania Góra
mountain).
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, situated in the valley of the Żylica river. It is part of the Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship, or Silesia Province , is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centering on the historic region known as Upper Silesia...
(since 1999), previously being part of the Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship (1975–1998). It has a population of 5,810 people (2004).
The town is a popular winter sports centre, with over 60 km of ski routes served by 30 ski lifts. The principal training centre for Poland's Winter Olympic
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
athletes is based in the town, where they train for events such as skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
, ski jumping
Ski jumping
Ski jumping is a sport in which skiers go down a take-off ramp, jump and attempt to land as far as possible down the hill below. In addition to the length of the jump, judges give points for style. The skis used for ski jumping are wide and long...
and ice skating
Ice skating
Ice skating is moving on ice by using ice skates. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including leisure, traveling, and various sports. Ice skating occurs both on specially prepared indoor and outdoor tracks, as well as on naturally occurring bodies of frozen water, such as lakes and...
. The ski jumping in the Youth WInter Olympics 2009 took place in Szczyrk. Peter Prevc
Peter Prevc
Peter Prevc is a Slovenian ski jumper who has competed since 2007. At the 2010 Winter Olympics, he finished seventh in the individual normal hill, eighth in the team large hill, and 16th in the individual large hill events....
won before Vladimir Zografski
Vladimir Zografski
Vladimir Zografski, born 14 July 1993 in Samokov, Bulgaria is an Bulgarian ski jumper. He took a 43rd place in the K-90 Normal hill competition in the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec, Czech Republic...
and Adrian Schuler.
The two mountain ranges that surround the valley are dominated by the peaks of Skrzyczne
Skrzyczne
Skrzyczne is a mountain in southern Poland, in the Silesian Voivodeship, close to the town of Szczyrk. It is the highest mountain of the Silesian Beskids.Skrzyczne is one of the Polish Crown Peaks....
(1,257m) and Klimczok (1,117m), both of significant interest to tourists. There are commanding views from either peak. Moreover, either peak is accessible to most people, in one day's hike, via the tourist routes marked on any tourist map available in most kiosks or mountain shelters. The routes are mostly accessible for the able-bodied, Skrzyczne being accessible via chair-lift.
Szczyrk shares a common border with Wisła, a town where the source of the Vistula
Vistula
The Vistula is the longest and the most important river in Poland, at 1,047 km in length. The watershed area of the Vistula is , of which lies within Poland ....
(Wisła) river can be found (around the Barania Góra
Barania Góra
Barania Góra is a mountain in southern Poland. At a height of 1,220 metres , it is the second highest mountain in the Silesian Beskids, and the highest in the Polish part of Upper Silesia...
mountain).